Climate change, or global warming is the result of a build up of greenhouse gases (GHG), chiefly carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere. GHGs serve to trap the suns heat in the earth’s atmosphere, forming the ‘greenhouse effect’ – a natural phenomena that keeps the earth warm. However, when the concentration of GHGs gets too large, and the earth’s equilibrium gets out of balance, we experience a dangerous rise in temperatures, which can result in severe and extreme weather conditions. In effect, earth’s blanket thickens and our atmosphere absorbs and holds more heat than it radiates back. This could directly affect rainfall, flooding and droughts, agriculture, economies, health and biosecurity.

The reason for the unprecedented rise in GHGs is largely a direct result of human intervention. In its 2001 report, the The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated, "There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities." In fact, since the industrial age began around 150 years ago, man’s burning of fossil fuels — coal, oil and gas — to fuel machinery has meant a rise in GHG emissions, mainly carbon dioxide, for the past 2 centuries. Some scientists estimate the increase in carbon dioxide emissions over the last 150 years to be 35 – 60 percent.
The IPCC projects that global temperatures will rise an additional 3 to10 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 to 5.5 degrees Celsius) by century's end.

Your carbon footprint is the direct effect your actions and lifestyle have on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. Probably the biggest contributors to your footprint are your travel needs, and your electricity demands at home. However, all your actions have a direct or indirect impact, including your diet, and the clothes you wear. We know cars, buses and airplanes burn gasoline, public transport may use gasoline and electricity and your home uses a significant portion of your personal electricity needs that generally comes from fossil fuel burning power plants. All these actions contribute to accelerating global warming and climate change.

Trees are green machines that act as natural filters of our air. Through the process of photosynthesis they absorb carbon dioxide (a key GHG and principle contributor to global warming) from the atmosphere and store it in their trunk, branches, leaves, roots, soil and foliage, while releasing oxygen back out.

Whereas deforestation, degradation and poor forest management reduce carbon storage in forests, sustainable management, planting, and rehabilitation of forests can increase carbon sequestration.  In fact the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization states “global carbon retention resulting from reduced deforestation, increased forest re-growth and more agro-forestry and plantations could make up for about 15% of carbon emissions from fossil fuels over the next 50 years (2006).”

Not only are trees an effective means for absorbing and storing the carbon you emit, they have far reaching benefits that extend well beyond that of filtering the air. Sustainably managed forests and urban forestry projects have multiple environmental and socio-economic functions important at the global, national and local scales, and play a vital part in sustainable development. Forests are sources of wood products. They help regulate local and regional rainfall. And forests are crucial sources of food, medicine, clean drinking water, and immense recreational, aesthetic, and spiritual benefits for millions of people.

Reducing your emissions is a vital part of combating climate change. We encourage everyone to be aware of their energy usage and its effects, and take steps to reduce this. What remains can be offset through our Carbon Free program.

1. By being more energy efficient at home, you can reduce your emissions and lower your energy bills by more than 30%.
2. Adjust your air conditioner and heater thermostat when you go out and shut down your system when you are away for extended periods.
3. Turn off and unplug stereos, radios, TVs, and DVDs when you leave for holidays. These appliances have a stand-by function that uses energy even when they are turned off.
4. Close doors to unused rooms trapping heating or cooling in rooms in use.
5. Consider switching to compact fluorescent lighting. Compact fluorescent light bulbs use about 75 per cent less energy than incandescent bulbs.
6. Insulating your walls and ceilings can save 20 to 30 percent of home heating bills and reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 1 ton per year.
7. Clean all of your heating and cooling appliances, making sure they are dust free. Energy is lost when heating units have to work harder to draw air through dirty filters. Ensuring that your air conditioner filter is clean can save 5 percent of the energy used.
8. Wash your dishes manually, or ensure your dishwasher is full when you run it. Allow your dishes to air dry, by not using the heat in the drying cycle can save 20 percent of your dishwasher's total electricity use.
9. Where possible walk or bike to your destination. Fuel use through transport constitutes a large proportion of total US emissions.
10. Recycle glass, metals, plastics and paper.
11. Plant shade trees and paint your house a light color if you live in a warm climate or a dark color if you live in a cold climate.
12. Turn your refrigerator down.
13. Select the most energy-efficient models when you replace your old appliances. Look for the Energy Star Label - your assurance that the product saves energy and prevents pollution.
14. Slow down and drive sensibly. The faster and more aggressive you drive, the more gas your car uses.